Convertible embalming table



H. M. LEONARD L1,746,950

CONVERTIBLE EMBALMING TABLE Filed OC'b. 19, 1927 Feb. 11, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet l FLIVLLE' :m1312111 Feb. 11, 1930. H. M. LEQNARD 1,746,950

CONVERTIBLE EMBALMING `TABLE Filed Oct. 19. 1927 :5,vsheets-sneet. 2

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CONVERTIBLE EMBALM'ING TABLE Filed Oct. 19. 1927` 5 sheets-sheet. 5

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Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE EMBA'LMING TABLE Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,260.

This invention is an embalming table and has for its general object the provision of a structure which may be used upon a truck in an undertaking establishment and which may be used without the truck as a carrying case for removing a. corpse from a hospital or residence to an ambulance and easily moved into position in the ambulance, and also to provide a structure which may be easily used as a stretcher and which will facilitate embalming operations. The invention also has for its object the provision of a structure in which the corpse will be so supported that all fluids may be readily drained therefrom and the apparatus maintained in a. sanitary condition and disinfecting fluids may be applied to the drain pan without wetting the body. The invention also provides a head rest of simple construction which may be easily adjusted to support the head of the body in a position most convenient to the undertaker. All these stated objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in such an apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: i

Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention showing the same mounted upon a truck;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the upper portion of the device arranged for use as a stretcher;

Fig. 5 is an elevation looking at the foot end of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation of one of the bearings for a side frame, and

F 7 and 8 are enlargeddetail sections on the lines 7-7 and 8-8 of Fig. 1, respec- Disposed above the base frame l and in spaced relation thereto, there is a similar upper frame 2 which is secured rigidly to the base frame and held in spaced relation therewith by bolts 3 inserted vertically through the side portions of the two frames and spacing collars 4 fitting around the bolts between the two frames, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. Any preferred number of these connecting bolts and spacing collars or sleeves may be provided as may be deemed desirable and they are arranged at suitable intervals around the structure, as will be understood. At the foot end of the upper frame 2, there isprovided a foot rail 5 of tubing substantially inverted U-shape and having its leg portions connected by a bracing member 6, the ends of the leg portions being brazed or otherwise permanently attached to the end member of the said upper frame, as will be understood upon reference to Figs. 3 and 5. This foot rail forms a stop to prevent a body sliding from the device when the device is tilted so as to be rolled through a. doorway or into an ambulance,

and in order thatl the device may be easily moved from point to point', casters 6 are provided at the foot end of the structure and are mounted in yolres 7 which are swiveled in the two frames at the foot end' thereof, as shown. At the opposite end of the structure, legs 8 are rigidly secured to the frame members and depend therefrom so that they may rest upon a floor or other supporting surface and may be also utilized as handles tolift the headlend of the frame so that the frame will rest upon the casters 6 and may be easily moved out of a room through a doorway and into an ambulance.

h/Iidway the ends of the upper frame, a series of metallic straps or metal tubing 9 is disposed transversely thereover and the ends of these straps are rolled about and rigidly secured to the side members of the frame. The straps are spaced apart and form a support for the intermediate portion of the body while at the same time providing for drainage of all fluids from the body onto a drain pan 10 which is carried by the lower frame and is shown most clearly in Fig. 3. At the foot side of the transverse straps 9, posts 11 are pivotallfY secured in the sides of the upper frame 2, and these posts carry a U-shaped foot frame 12 which normally rests Within the upper frame and is supported by stops or lugs 13 of suitable form provided on the frame 2, as will be understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3. rlhe frame 12 is equipped with a plurality of transverse metallic straps 14 which are similar to the straps 9 but are narrower than the lattervv and have their ends wrapped around and secured to the sides of the frame 12 in the same manner as the ends of the straps9 are secured to the sides of the frame 2. The straps 14 are also spaced apart to provide for drainage while reducingfweight and at the same time furnishing a sufficient support for the feet of the corpse. The foot section consisting of the frame 12 and the straps 14 normally rests within the outlines of the frame 2, as shown in Fig. 3, but it may be easily swung upwardly when access to the drain pan is desired in order to clean the pan. At the head side of the straps 9, posts 15 are pivotally mounted in the sides of the frame 2 and a head frame 16 is carried by said posts, the head frame being a substantially U-shaped frame, similar to the frame 12, which has just been described. The frame 16 has narrow straps 17 secured upon and extended between its side portions adj acent the pivots thereof and nearer the head end of the structure a wide strap or plate 18 is provided upon the frame 16, this member 18 constituting a head rest upon which a pillow or head holder may be placed if desired. At the center of the cross member of the frame 16, there is a depending lug 19 to which is pivoted a rack bar or latch 20 which is adapted to ride over and engage the end of a hook or lug 21 on the head member of the frame 2 so that the head section may be adjusted to any desired inclination and held in the set position in an obvious manner. When the head frame is in its lowest position, the lug 19 will rest upon the hook 21, shown in Fig. 3.

The structure also includes side frames 22 which consist of vtubes having their end portions bent downwardly so that the tubes present substantially flat U-shaped members, and these side rails are mounted upon the sides of the upper frame 2 so that they may be set in the upriOht position shown in 1 or in the laterally extending position shown at the lower side of Fig. 2 and at one side of Fig. 5. One form of mounting whereby the side rail is secured upon the side member of the upper frame 2 is shown in detail in Fig. 6 and comprises a half bearing 23, to an upper extension of which the end of the rail 22 is secured, the bearing being, of course, provided with a semi-cylindrical central portion fitting to the frame 2 in an obvious manner. Mating with the half bearing 23 is a half bearing 24 having end extensions or lugs 25 through which and mating lugs 26 on the half bearing 23 bolts 27 are inserted to secure the members of the bearing together and about the frame 2. The bearing members are provided with notches 28 in their peripheries located ninety degrees apart and adapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed latch 29 pivotally mounted'within recesses provided therefor in the frame 2 so that the side frame may be held in an upright position or in a laterally disposed position, as shown at the right of Fig. 5. -When the side rails are arranged in an upright position, they serve as retainers to prevent a body rolling from the stretcher and also as supports for any covering which may be draped over the body so that the cover will be held above and out of contact with the body and the gruesome appearance ordinarily attend ant upon the use of the apparatus will be avoided. Vhen the side rails are in a laterally disposed position, they will form' shelves or supports for shelves upon which bottles or embalming tools may be placed, and in Fig. 2 I have indicated a shelf 30 consisting of a metallic plate having its outer side edge rolled to form a bead 31 engaged around the outer portion of the side rail and having its inner free edge resting upon the frame 2 so that it will bridge the space between the frame 2 and the 'side rail 22 and form a convenient support for the embalmers paraphernalia. At the head end of the apparatus, a drainage spout 32 is provided and is engaged about the side rail 22 in the same manner as the shelf 30 is engaged therewith but the inner free end of this spout is disposed over the drain pan 10 so that the fluids draining from the body and which tend to spurt laterally will be caught and directed into the drain pan in an obvious manner. It will also be noted that the side portions of this member 32 are upturned to form flanges 33 so that this device forms a chute or spout by which the fluids will be caught and positively directed onto the drain pan.

The drain pan which has been mentioned consists of a plate of aluminum or other suitable material of suliici'ent size and form to eX- tend over t-he entire lower frame l, the edge portions of the pan being` rolled or formed into beads 34 which fit around the lower frame l, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and the inner portions of the plate which form the bottom of the pan are so disposed as toconverge toward the head end of the apparatus so that all the fluids will be directed to the outlet 35 and through a discharge spout 36, the discharge 'spout having a hook 37' thereon to support a pail or other receptacle so that all the matter drained from the corpse will be caught and may be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

On the under side of the lower frame l between the ends thereof, there are secured transverse cleats or stop members 38 which will prevent endwise movement of the frame when it is placed upon a truck, such as shown at 39 in Fig. l. The truclr may be of any preferred form and is equipped with casters 40 whereby it may be easily moved. If so desired, the casters 6 and the yokes 7 in which they are mounted may be omitted and the lower frame l permanently bolted to the truck. I

Then a body is to be placed upon the stretcher, the side rails 22 may be permitted to swing down into a pendent position so that they will be out of the way and the body easily placed upon the support consisting of the straps 9, the head frame, the foot frame and the straps secured respectively upon said frames. The side rails may then be returned to their upright positions and a cover placed over the body. When the apparatus is used in hospitals or like institutions, it is preferred that it be mounted permanently upon a truck and the legs 8 will serve as handles whereby mot-ion may be imparted through theframe structure to the truck. For moving a body from a residence to an ambulance and through halls and doorways, it is preferred that the device be lifted from the truck and be supported in an inclined position upon the casters 6 and it may be easily used in this manner as a carrying case. The apparatus also provides a structure which may be used as an ordinary stretcher, and in Fig. 4 such arrangement is illustrated. This stretcher comprises the frame 2 constructed as hereinbefore described, but instead of being secured to the lower frame l, said lower frame is omitted and feet Lll are secured to the frame 2 at intervals so that the stretcher may be placed upon an ordinary mortuary table and supported upon the surface of the same to support a body in position for embalming or other operations.

It will be noted that the head end of the apparatus is free of upstanding elements, the side rails being turned down out of the way when embalming or other operations are being performed, the operator being thus given full free access to the head of the body where the greatest amount of work is performed so that he may conveniently arrange the hair and the head as may be desired. 1

Having thus described the invention, I claim: p f 1 l. An apparatus for the purposes set forth including an open elongated main frame, a fixed foot rail upstanding from one end of said frame, a foot support consisting of a UL shaped frame pivotally attached at its ends to the sides of the main frame, rigid stationary lugs on the. main frame to support the U-shaped frame, and transverse straps eX tending over the U-shaped frame, a head rest including a U-s'haped frame pivotally attached at its ends to the sides of the main frame, transverse straps secured upon said U-shaped frame, means for supporting the head rest in a set position, and transverse straps secured over the main frame between the U-shaped foot rest and the head rest.

2. An apparatus for the purposes set forth comprising a main frame, side rails mounted on said frame and including mating bearing members encircling the respective sides of the main frame and provided with spaced radial notches, and latches mounted in the sides of the main frame immediately adjacent the side rails and adapted to selectively engage said notches.

3. An apparatus for the purposes set forth comprising a lower frame, a drain pan consisting of a plate having its edge portions rolled about the said frame, an upper frame secured upon the lower frame in spaced relation thereto, body-supporting members carried by the upper frame, side rails mounted on the upper frame and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom or laterally outwardly therefrom, means for securing the side rails in a set position, and ashelf consisting of a plate provided at its outer edge with a bea-d adapted to fit about a side rail and having its inner edge resting upon said upper frame.

4. An apparatus for the purposes set forth comprising a lower frame, a drainpan consisting of a plate having its edge portions rolled about the said frame, an upper frame secured upon the lower frame in spaced relation thereto, body-supporting members carried by the upper frame, side rails mounted on the upper frame and adapted to extend upwardlytherefrom or laterally outwardly therefrom, means for securing the side rails in a set position, and a drainage member consisting of a plate having its outer edge engaged about a side rail and its inner edge resting on the drainage pan, the sides of said plate defining upstanding flanges.

5. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a lower elongated frame, a drain pan fitted at its margins upon the sides and ends of said frame and disposed within said frame and coeXtensive therewith, an upright frame rigidly secured upon the lower frame in spaced relation thereto and coeXtensive therewith, a plurality of spaced transverse strips secured to the upper frame intermediate the ends thereof, U-shaped frames pivoted at their ends to the sides of the upper Jframe at opposite sides of said transverse straps, spaced transverse straps on said U-shaped frames, and means on said upper frame for supporting the intermedite portions of the U-shaped frames.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY M. LEONARD. [n s] 

